RORY AND KATE - ETHIOPIA HERE WE COME!

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RORY AND KATE - ETHIOPIA HERE WE COME!

Rory Ward is a Kilmacud legend!  He played a key role in our ground-breaking Dublin SFC win in 1992 and our first All Ireland Club success in 1995.  For many of us, the image of Rory hugging Con Cleary following the All Irl win captures the essence of what that Croke Park victory meant to the club.  It’s a priceless photo that adorns GAA Headquarters to this day and lifts our spirits when we see it (click here to view).  Rory continues to be very active within the club, coaching various teams in recent years; he is also a passionate supporter.  Accordingly, when he failed to show at some Leinster club championship games towards the end of last year one needed to check further!  Alas, all was well: as you can read in Rory’s story below he had another team to support ... far from home but obviously quite at home! 

Well done Rory, and Kate, and thanks for agreeing to share this story.  We salute your unselfish work and urge club members to support a most noble cause!

Postscript: Rory didn't reveal how he fared in the Great Ethiopian Run but we've no doubt he would have given Haile Gabrielle Selaissie a "run for his money" so to speak!!

Note: if you know of other Kilmacud people doing extraordinary things “off the field”, please contact us – we would love to hear from you at any time (email address at bottom of page).  


Recession, what recession?     Context is everything!

Kate and I started our African adventure on the 1st of November, last year, when we travelled to Ethiopia to work for three months.  Kate is a community midwife working from the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, while I am a self employed carpenter.

Our first stop found us in Addis Ababa where we met two wonderful women, Sr Celly and Sr Bernadette.  These women are doing fantastic work improving living conditions for many pennilesss families throughout the city.

One week in, our travels took us 120km south of Addis Ababa to the dusty town of Wonji.  The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary successfully offer care to many patients in a Health Centre which they established in Wonji 25 years ago.  The nuns train and employ 18 local staff and the average monthly wage is approximately 30 euro.  The centre provides care for people from birth to old age, regardless of colour or creed.  Many people travel long distances on foot or by horse and cart to receive treatment for many kinds of illnesses including Typhoid, Cholera, Malaria and H.I.V.  Kate worked with the traditional birth attendants providing care to many pregnant and labouring women.  She was actively involved in the immunization schemes which are provided free of charge in an effort to improve general health in a very difficult environment. 

Water shortages are a constant concern, so my challenge was to establish an effective water harvesting system.  The "builders providers" turned out to be a man sitting at the roadside who crafted gutters out of a roll of tin.  Every job I undertook was supervised closely by curious locals as well as patients awaiting review.  Five water tanks were installed.  It happened to rain on two occasions during our stay which generated much excitement as people saw the system in operation. 

Kate and I were the only white people living in Wonji which created much curiousity.  Small children frequently rubbed our arms to see what we felt like.  They called us "farenge" (foreigner) but always made us feel at home and very welcome. 

Running is hugely popular in Ethiopia and for many it provides opportunities for talented athletes to better their circumstances.  On the 21st November we participated in the 10km, Great Ethiopian Run.  Over 35,000 people enthusiastically took part.  Haile Gabrielle Selassie was the master of ceremonies and we had the pleasure of meeting him the night before. 

We would like to thank all our friends who donated so generously to the fundraising efforts.  We can state with absolute conviction that every cent has been put to very good use by the Missionary Sisters. 

In conclusion, one of the most baffling aspects of our travels was figuring out time and dates.  We celebrated Christmas twice, once on the 25th December and then on the 7th January, Ethiopian style!  The Ethiopian calendar is seven and a half years behind the Gregorian calendar, therefore it is now 2003!  Just imagine, if we could go back to 2003 in Ireland, we too may be able to say: "Recession, what recession?"  

If anyone would like to support the work in Ethiopia an account is available in Bank of Ireland, Stillorgan: 

Sort code90-10-95

AccountNumber 64213355

IBAN IE92BOFI 9013 3564 2133 55


 
 
 
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